Replacing Car Air Filter

CrazyChemist_2

Hello :hello:

I'm looking into replacing the air filter on my 97 (P) Almera as it hasn't been done for around 2 years now. I've done the spark plugs myself and oil and filter done locally, so all I think needs to be done is the air filter... which I'm not too sure about as I've never touched it before.

I removed the casing from the top of the unit above the engine and saw the filter, looked like a piece of corrugated cardboard, but not sure how to remove it and replace - should it just slot in or does it need glue/some other sticky stuff to keep the filter in place?

Also any tips for where to get an air filter? I'm not sure if it's really necessary to go for a genuine Nissan air filter, so any and all advice is much appreciated :cool:

CC :beer:

rdwarr

It should just slot in. The casing will hold it in place.

Any decent motor factors (or Halfords) should have one in stock; it's quite a popular car.

Hadrian

All air filters are very expensive for what one gets. Personaly I 'inspect' mine and if it isn't black I simply turn it, if possible, around so new section faces air inlet and leave the thing alone. That's on my 9 year old car and experienc eof 45 years motoring. (not driving!)

vansboy

Just lift it out & check the new one is the same size (not got part numbers confussed) wipe or brush any dust in the casing, away & pop the new one in.

Make sure all the securing clips fit OK , so as not to leave any openings around the sides.

VB

CrazyChemist_2

Hadrian wrote:

All air filters are very expensive for what one gets. Personaly I 'inspect' mine and if it isn't black I simply turn it, if possible, around so new section faces air inlet and leave the thing alone. That's on my 9 year old car and experienc eof 45 years motoring. (not driving!)

Really? I didn't want to try removing the actual filter unit in case it didn't go back on!!! But surely if you turn it around it will just allow all the clogged dirt/dust into the engine inlet?

rrockettman

Replace it!
It should cost under a tenner and will keep your engine running efficiently. A dirty filter will cost you at the fuel pumps, by around 2-3 mpg.
If you want to go up market and only replace it once in the cars lifetime, you could buy a K & N panel filter. These are made of steel mesh and can be taken out and cleaned instead of thrown away. The initial cost of around £40 is worth it if you plan on keeping the car for a few years.
Either way you will save money in the long run.

Paul_the_Painter

When Hadrian is saying "turn it" I hope he is refering to the circular type of air filters. If you have a flat/square type of air filter it would be disasterous to to turn it so the black bit would face the engine. The engine would ingest all the rubbish the filter had just spent 6000 miles filtering out.

But good grief, air filters are cheap, and the job is easier than doing the plugs. pop down any Halfords or other car parts shop.

CrazyChemist_2

Well the one and only quote I have is from Halfords for £13.75 but that's a Halfords brand, not Nissan Genuine. Is there really much of a difference do you reckon and worth extra cost?

tomstickland

Go to a motor factors and buy at trade prices. Better service than Halfrauds too.

There's been a lot of discussion about K&N filters on engine tuning boards. Essentially, their filtering abilities are not that amazing, but it hasn't stopped me using them.

skiddy2k

CrazyChemist wrote:

Well the one and only quote I have is from Halfords for £13.75 but that's a Halfords brand, not Nissan Genuine. Is there really much of a difference do you reckon and worth extra cost?

crazychemist, id say, the halfords ones are fine.
but, just out of curiosity, its probly worth giving nissan a call and finding out how much their one costs.

if its only a difference of a few quid, then id probly go for it, otherwise the halfords one is fine.

skiddy

trigger_mike

Try ringing your local motor factors, Find number in yellow pages, will be a lot cheaper, the best make is some thing like ADL (blueprint) , come in blue packaging, they are a company that makes parts for japanese cars to o.e spec and are very good, i used to sell them.
Make sure you do change it, don't turn it over, which you won't be able to do anyway, also it will help if you take the old part number of the old one, helps match them up.